• Title/Summary/Keyword: Management clinical practice

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Relationship between Breathing Pattern Disorder and Pain in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain (만성요통환자의 호흡패턴이상과 통증과의 상관관계)

  • Lim, Chae-Gil
    • Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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    • v.14 no.4
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    • pp.355-363
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    • 2020
  • To investigate the relationship between breathing pattern disorder and pain in patients with chronic low back pain(CLBP). One hundred four patients were measured the End-tidal CO2(EtCO2) and respiration rate(RR) using capnography. Also, The Breathing-hold time(BHT), Nijmegen Questionnaire(NQ), and Thoracic excursion examinated. There was a significant correlation between EtCO2 and BHT, thoracic excursion(r=.302, r=.281)(p<.01), and a low negative correlation with RR, VAS(r=-.253, -200)(p<.05). There was a significant correlation between NQ and RR(r=.237)(p<.05). There was a low correlation between thoracic excursion and VAS(r=-.370)(p<.01). There was a significant difference in the EtCO2, RR, BHT, thoracic excursion, and VAS between the thoracic and diaphragm breathing pattern(p<.05). There were no significant differences in the NQ(p>.05). There was a correlation between EtCO2 and BHT, thoracic excursion, RR, VAS in patients with CLBP. In addition, There was a correlation between RR and NQ, thoracic excursion, and VAS. As a result, it was found that there is a close relationship between breathing pattern disorder and pain. There was a significant difference in the EtCO2 level, RR, BHT, thoracic excursion and VAS value in the comparison of thoracic breathing pattern and diaphragm breathing pattern. This is a meaningful result of suggesting a breathing pattern treatment approach in the rehabilitation and pain management of chronic low back pain patients in clinical practice.

Effect of Non-contact Korean Medical Treatment for Patients Recovering at Home with Positive Coronavirus Disease 2019 Diagnostic Test Results at a Local Public Health Center: A Retrospective Chart Review (지역 보건소에서 시행한 코로나 바이러스 감염증-19 진단 검사상 양성인 재택치료 환자의 비대면 한의진료 효과: 후향적 차트 리뷰)

  • Jeon, Chaeheun;Choi, Daejun;Kim, Gyeongmuk;Kim, Hyejin;Leem, Jungtae;Chi, Gyoo-yong
    • Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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    • v.36 no.4
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    • pp.130-137
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    • 2022
  • Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, appropriate management of sequelae and treatment of infectious symptoms became increasingly important healthcare issues. Although the practice guidelines and treatment cases based on the East Asian traditional medicine have been reported, there are rare studies on the use of Korean medicine in Korea. Therefore, this study aimed to present the progress of non-contact Korean medical treatment for infected patients at a local public health center using retrospective chart review. A total of 18 patients were prescribed with 5 days of herbal decoction and medicine extract covered by the national health insurance. With the questionnaire form, the progression and improvement of symptoms before and after treatment were evaluated using the numerical rating scale (NRS), and the treatment satisfaction and opinions were obtained. The symptoms such as cough (5.56±2.23 to 2.89±2.14), sputum (6.11±1,75 to 3.28±2.47), sore throat (6.06±2.70 to 1.47±1.62), anorexia (5.56±2.63 to 1.94±2.21), nausea (3.75±1.71 to 1.17±1.11), diarrhea (3.40±2.63 to 1.50±1.51), chest tightness (4.93±2.46 to 2.29±2.30) and fatigue (6.44±1.79 to 2.67±1.88) all improved according to the NRS, and the satisfaction with herbal medicine treatment on a 5-point Likert scale was 4.24±0.90. No side effects and adverse reactions were reported. Thereupon non-contact Korean medical treatment can be concluded that it effectively reduces the COVID-19 infection mild symptoms in restrictive extent. Since the retrospective data does not include a control group, the more confirmative data is needed by multicenter and large-scale controlled clinical study afterwards.

The Effect of Flipped Learning in Health and Physical Assessment Practice Classes on Academic Self-efficacy, Achievement Goal, Cognitive Engagement of Nursing Students (건강사정실습 수업에서의 플립러닝이 간호대학생의 학업적 자기효능감, 성취목표, 인지적 관여에 미치는 영향)

  • Mihye Lim;Taehui Kim
    • Journal of Industrial Convergence
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    • v.21 no.3
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    • pp.107-115
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    • 2023
  • This study was conducted to test the effect of flipped learning on academic self-efficacy, achievement goal, cognitive engagement of nursing students. This study used a one group pre-post test design. Participants were 91 students who were taking the health and physical assessment in nursing. The flipped learning was provided for 5 times (10 hours). The data of 91 people who agreed to the study and responded to the pre and post questionnaires were analyzed. Data were collected between September 26 and November 25, 2022. Data were analyzed by frequencies, paired t-test using SPSS WIN 24.0. The results showed that self-efficacy of learning(t=-5.445, p<.001), and cognitive engagement(t=-2.120, p=.035) increased significantly. As a result of the study, it was proved that flipped learning is effective for self-efficacy of learning and cognitive engagement. But it is necessary to conduct repeated studies due to limitations in research design, and to explore ways to utilize various teaching-learning strategies to improve the learning ability and clinical performance of nursing students.

A Study on Need Assessment in Health Promotion Programs for Developing Nursing Centers - Breast Self Examination- (간호센타 개발을 위한 건강증진 프로그램 요구사정 연구-유방자가검진 프로그램을 중심으로-)

  • Park, In-Hyae;Kang, Hae-Young;Lee, Jeong-Hee;Ryu, Hyun-Sook
    • Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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    • v.11 no.1
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    • pp.21-36
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    • 2000
  • The purpose of this study was to assess the needs of breast self examination education (BSEE) programs for developing nursing centers. A first, we reviewed the literature of activity and management-related factors of nursing centers: and, second. we used a questionnaire to discover the degree of knowledge, attitude, and practice on breast cancer, as well as an individual's intention to participate BSEE program. 1. Reviewing the literatures of nursing center activities. Nursing centers which were administered by a professional nurse are an ideal site for faculty and student practices. With the use of nursing models of health. professional nurses in nursing centers diagnose and treat human responses to potential and actual health problems and offer holistic, client-centered health service. In nursing centers professional nursing services include health education, health promotion, and health-related research. A nursing center is comprised of the advisory and exacutive commitee; the advisory commitee serves consultants and links community needs to the nursing center, while the director of the exacutive commitee identifies the potential resources to generate funds, support, and facilitate the activities of staffs in a nursing center. Nursing centers mobilize various financal resources for reimbursement of services from college and insurance companies, collect minimum service fees from the client, and further collect fees for providing programs to community groups, this also includes membership fees, and donations. The services provided by nursing centers focus on services related to primary prevention, health maintenance & health promotion, direct nursing care for acute & chronic diseases, and holistic care for actual and potential health problems. The client satisfaction for the services was high. Students also showed positive reponses for their clinical experiences and independent working conditions. 2. The degree of knowledge, attitudes, and practices for breast cancer. and an individual's intention to participate in the BSEE program. The subjects of this study were 308 females in K-city in the Republic of Korea. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The mean age of the respondents was 35.0 years old. Those who already participated in the BSEE were 64.9%, and those who had support and encouragement to practice BSE from significant others were 25.1 %. Clients intent to participate in the BSEE were 37.0%. The mean score of knowledge(2.4 out of 5 points) and practices(1.8 out of 5 points) for breast cancer were quite low, but the mean score of attitudes was relatively positive04.5 out of 20 point) for breast cancer. Those who already had BSEE showed significantly high scores in knowledge(t=6.48, p<0.01), attitudes (t=10.54, p<0.01). and practices(t=57.07, p<0.001) for breast cancer than those who had not participated in the BSEE. In all age groups no intention to participate in the BSEE was higher than who the intention to participate. These findings suggest some strategies should be developed to increase the awareness of breast cancer's early detection.

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A Study on the Goal-Orientation of QI Performers in the Medical Centers (의료기관 QI 담당자의 목표추구몰입에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Mi-Sook;Park, Jae-Sung
    • The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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    • v.2 no.1
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    • pp.105-124
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    • 2008
  • The purpose of this research is to provide the data base for the activation of Quality Improvement operation through investigating the status of Quality Improvement operation, and finding out factors influencing on the goal-orientation of QI performers in the medical centers of more than one hundred beds where are practicing Quality Improvement operation. In order to reach the purpose, document study was carried out grounded on the proceeding researches and formulated statistical data in relation with the status of Quality Improvement performers, and proof study was carried out through questionnaire survey. The subjects of the survey were the Quality Improvement performers working in seventy three medical centers in Pusan-Gyeongnam, Daegu-Gyeongbuk, and Ulsan. Among eighty three Quality Improvement performers, fifty, five were questionnaire surveyed, on the result of which Reliability Analysis, Factor Analysis, and Multiple Regression Analysis were made, using statistical program. The the results of the proof analysis on this research are as follows. First, in the factors influencing the devoting to goal pursuit of QI performers, organization-goal contribution(0.44) had significant positive effects, while organization conflict(-0.25) had significant negative effects. In other words, the higher the organization-goal contribution was, the higher the devoting to goal pursuit was, while the less the organization conflict was, the higher the devoting to goal pursuit was, which was statistically significant.(p<0.05). Second, in the aspect of goal performance types of QI performers, the process-centered type showed high level of the devoting to goal pursuit, which was statistically significant.(p<0.05). Third, in the aspect of QI performance degree, the higher the devoting to goal pursuit was, the higher the QI performance degree was, which was statistically significant.(p<0.05). In addition, the performers who perceived their workplaces organic structure showed much higher QI performance degree, which statistically significant.(p<0.05). Generalizing the results of this research, it is possible to offer a few suggestions as follows. First, as the competition among the medical centers is more severe recently owing to medical center evaluation system, medical centers are practicing various Quality Improvement operation in all of medical services such as clinical performance and management performance, to reach the purpose of both cost-cutting and medical quality improvement. Thus in order to practice Quality Improvement operation more efficiently in medical centers, it is essential to nuke use of problem-solving methods and statistical members. This as the willingness of chief executives and positive attitude and recognition of organization members. This requires the installation of divisions in charge and disposition of persons in charge, not to speak of persistent training of Quality Improvement. Second, the divisions in charge of QI carry out Quality Improvement operation at the medical center level, and take the role of generalizing and adjusting QI performances of various departments. Owing to this role, the division in charge of QI is considered indispensable organization in the QI operation of medical centers along with medical QI committee, while it contributes to the government's goal of reducing quality level gaps among medical centers. Therefore it is necessary for government and QI organizations to give institutional support and resources for the sake of QI operation of medical centers, besides to supply systematic trainning and informations to the divisions and persons in charge of QI. Third, it is certain that disposition of persons in charge should be determined in view of the scale and the scope of QI operation in medical centers.

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Clinical Indices Predicting Resorption of Pleural Effusion in Tuberculous Pleurisy (결핵성 늑막염에서 삼출액의 흡수에 영향을 미치는 임상적 지표)

  • Lee, Joe-Ho;Chung, Hee-Soon;Lee, Jeong-Sang;Cho, Sang-Rok;Yoon, Hae-Kyung;Song, Chee-Sung
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.42 no.5
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    • pp.660-668
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    • 1995
  • Background: It is said that tuberculous pleuritis responds well to anti-tuberculous drug in general, so no further aggressive therapeutic management is unnecesarry except in case of diagnostic thoracentesis. But in clinical practice, we often see some patients who need later decortication due to dyspnea caused by pleural loculation or thickening despite several months of anti-tuberculous drug therapy. Therefore, we want to know the clinical difference between a group who received decortication due to complication of tuberculous pleuritis despite of anti-tuberculous drug and a group who improved after 9 months of anti-tuberculous drug only. Methods: We reviewed 20 tuberculous pleuritis patients(group 1) who underwent decortication due to dyspnea caused by pleural loculation or severe pleural thickening despite of anti-tuberculous drug therapy for 9 or more months, and 20 other tuberculous pleuritis patients(group 2) who improved by anti-tuberculous drug only and had similar degrees of initial pleural effusion and similar age, sex distribution. Then we compared between the two groups the duration of symptoms before anti-tuberculous drug treatment and pleural fluid biochemistry like glucose, LDH, protein and pleural fluid cell count and WBC differential count, and we also wanted to know whether there was any difference in preoperative PFT value and postoperative PFT value in the patients who underwent decortication, and obtained following results. Results: 1) Group 1 patients had lower glucose level{$63.3{\pm}30.8$(mg/dl)} than that of the group 2{$98.5{\pm}34.2$(mg/dl), p<0.05}, and higher LDH level{$776.3{\pm}266.0$(IU/L)} than the group 2 patients{$376.3{\pm}123.1$(IU/L), p<0.05}, and also longer duration of symptom before treatment{$2.0{\pm}1.7$(month)} than the group 2{$1.1{\pm}1.2$(month), p<0.05}, respectively. 2) In group 1, FVC changed from preoperative $2.55{\pm}0.80$(L) to postoperative $2.99{\pm}0.78$(L)(p<0.05), and FEV1 changed from preoperative $2.19{\pm}0.70$(L/sec) to postoperative $2.50{\pm}0.69$(L/sec)(p<0.05). 3) There was no difference in pleural fluid protein level($5.05{\pm}1.01$(gm/dL) and $5.15{\pm}0.77$(gm/dl), p>0.05) and WBC differential count between group 1 and group 2. Conclusion: It is probable that in tuberculous pleuritis there is a risk of complication in the case of showing relatively low pleural fluid glucose or high LDH level, or in the case of having long duraton of symptom before treatment. We thought prospective study should be performed to confirm this.

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A Study on improvement of curriculum in Nursing (간호학 교과과정 개선을 위한 조사 연구)

  • 김애실
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.4 no.2
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    • pp.1-16
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    • 1974
  • This Study involved the development of a survey form and the collection of data in an effort-to provide information which can be used in the improvement of nursing curricula. The data examined were the kinds courses currently being taught in the curricula of nursing education institutions throughout Korea, credits required for course completion, and year in-which courses are taken. For the purposes of this study, curricula were classified into college, nursing school and vocational school categories. Courses were directed into the 3 major categories of general education courses, supporting science courses and professional education course, and further subdirector as. follows: 1) General education (following the classification of Philip H. phoenix): a) Symbolics, b) Empirics, c) Aesthetics. 4) Synthetics, e) Ethics, f) Synoptic. 2) Supporting science: a) physical science, b) biological science, c) social science, d) behavioral science, e) Health science, f) Educations 3) Professional Education; a) basic courses, b) courses in each of the respective fields of nursing. Ⅰ. General Education aimed at developing the individual as a person and as a member of society is relatively strong in college curricula compared with the other two. a) Courses included in the category of symbolics included Korean language, English, German. Chines. Mathematics. Statics: Economics and Computer most college curricula included 20 credits. of courses in this sub-category, while nursing schools required 12 credits and vocational school 10 units. English ordinarily receives particularly heavy emphasis. b) Research methodology, Domestic affair and women & courtney was included under the category of empirics in the college curricula, nursing and vocational school do not offer this at all. c) Courses classified under aesthetics were physical education, drill, music, recreation and fine arts. Most college curricula had 4 credits in these areas, nursing school provided for 2 credits, and most vocational schools offered 10 units. d) Synoptic included leadership, interpersonal relationship, and communications, Most schools did not offer courses of this nature. e) The category of ethics included citizenship. 2 credits are provided in college curricula, while vocational schools require 4 units. Nursing schools do not offer these courses. f) Courses included under synoptic were Korean history, cultural history, philosophy, Logics, and religion. Most college curricular 5 credits in these areas, nursing schools 4 credits. and vocational schools 2 units. g) Only physical education was given every Year in college curricula and only English was given in nursing schools and vocational schools in every of the curriculum. Most of the other courses were given during the first year of the curriculum. Ⅱ. Supporting science courses are fundamental to the practice and application of nursing theory. a) Physical science course include physics, chemistry and natural science. most colleges and nursing schools provided for 2 credits of physical science courses in their curricula, while most vocational schools did not offer t me. b) Courses included under biological science were anatomy, physiologic, biology and biochemistry. Most college curricula provided for 15 credits of biological science, nursing schools for the most part provided for 11 credits, and most vocational schools provided for 8 units. c) Courses included under social science were sociology and anthropology. Most colleges provided for 1 credit in courses of this category, which most nursing schools provided for 2 creates Most vocational school did not provide courses of this type. d) Courses included under behavioral science were general and clinical psychology, developmental psychology. mental hygiene and guidance. Most schools did not provide for these courses. e) Courses included under health science included pharmacy and pharmacology, microbiology, pathology, nutrition and dietetics, parasitology, and Chinese medicine. Most college curricula provided for 11 credits, while most nursing schools provide for 12 credits, most part provided 20 units of medical courses. f) Courses included under education included educational psychology, principles of education, philosophy of education, history of education, social education, educational evaluation, educational curricula, class management, guidance techniques and school & community. Host college softer 3 credits in courses in this category, while nursing schools provide 8 credits and vocational schools provide for 6 units, 50% of the colleges prepare these students to qualify as regular teachers of the second level, while 91% of the nursing schools and 60% of the vocational schools prepare their of the vocational schools prepare their students to qualify as school nurse. g) The majority of colleges start supporting science courses in the first year and complete them by the second year. Nursing schools and vocational schools usually complete them in the first year. Ⅲ. Professional Education courses are designed to develop professional nursing knowledge, attitudes and skills in the students. a) Basic courses include social nursing, nursing ethics, history of nursing professional control, nursing administration, social medicine, social welfare, introductory nursing, advanced nursing, medical regulations, efficient nursing, nursing english and basic nursing, College curricula devoted 13 credits to these subjects, nursing schools 14 credits, and vocational schools 26 units indicating a severe difference in the scope of education provided. b) There was noticeable tendency for the colleges to take a unified approach to the branches of nursing. 60% of the schools had courses in public health nursing, 80% in pediatric nursing, 60% in obstetric nursing, 90% in psychiatric nursing and 80% in medical-surgical nursing. The greatest number of schools provided 48 crudites in all of these fields combined. in most of the nursing schools, 52 credits were provided for courses divided according to disease. in the vocational schools, unified courses are provided in public health nursing, child nursing, maternal nursing, psychiatric nursing and adult nursing. In addition, one unit is provided for one hour a week of practice. The total number of units provided in the greatest number of vocational schools is thus Ⅲ units double the number provided in nursing schools and colleges. c) In th leges, the second year is devoted mainly to basic nursing courses, while the third and fourth years are used for advanced nursing courses. In nursing schools and vocational schools, the first year deals primarily with basic nursing and the second and third years are used to cover advanced nursing courses. The study yielded the following conclusions. 1. Instructional goals should be established for each courses in line with the idea of nursing, and curriculum improvements should be made accordingly. 2. Course that fall under the synthetics category should be strengthened and ways should be sought to develop the ability to cooperate with those who work for human welfare and health. 3. The ability to solve problems on the basis of scientific principles and knowledge and understanding of man society should be fostered through a strengthening of courses dealing with physical sciences, social sciences and behavioral sciences and redistribution of courses emphasizing biological and health sciences. 4. There should be more balanced curricula with less emphasis on courses in the major There is a need to establish courses necessary for the individual nurse by doing away with courses centered around specific diseases and combining them in unified courses. In addition it is possible to develop skill in dealing with people by using the social setting in comprehensive training. The most efficient ratio of the study experience should be studied to provide more effective, interesting education Elective course should be initiated to insure a man flexible, responsive educational program. 5. The curriculum stipulated in the education law should be examined.

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Application of Patient Safety Indicators using Korean National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury Survey (퇴원손상심층자료를 이용한 환자안전지표의 적용)

  • Kim, Yoo-Mi
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.14 no.5
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    • pp.2293-2303
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    • 2013
  • Objective: This study aims to determine whether national patient safety indicators (PSIs) can be calculated. Methods: Using PSI criteria from Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) Health Technical Papers 19 based on the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), PSIs were identified in the Korean National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury Survey (KNHDIIS) database for 875,622 inpatient admissions between 2004 and 2008. Logistic regression was used to estimate factors of variations for PSIs. Results: From 2004 to 2008, 3,084 PSI events of 8 PSIs occurred for over 80 thousands discharges. Rates per 1,000 events for decubitus ulcer (PSI3, 4.88), foreign body left during procedure (PSI5, 0.05), postoperative sepsis (PSI13, 1.32), birth trauma-injury to neonate (PSI17, 7.92) and obstetric trauma-vaginal delivery (PSI18, 32.81) are all identified between ranges from maximum to minimum of OECD rates, respectively. However, rates per 1,000 events for selected infections due to medical care (PSI7, 0.22), postoperative pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis (PSI12, 0.90) and accidental puncture or laceration (PSI15, 0.71) are below the minimum of OECD range. 7 PSIs except PSI 18 showed statistically significant relationship with number of secondary diagnoses. When adjusting patient characteristics, there are statistically significant different rates according to bed size or location of hospitals. Conclusion: This is the first empirical study to identify nationally number of adverse events and PSIs using administrative database. While many factors influencing these results such as quality of data, clinical data and so on are remain, the results indicate opportunities for estimate national statistics for patient safety. Furthermore outcome research such as mortality related to adverse events is needed based on results of this study.

AN EPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDY ON THE PEDIATRIC PATIENTS IN DEPARTMENT-OF PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY, CHOSUN UNIVERSITY DENTAL HOSPITAL FOR LAST 10 YEARS(1990-1999) (최근 10년간 조선대학교 치과병원 소아치과에 내원한 신환에 관한 역학적 연구(1990-1999))

  • Ryu, Hyun-Seop;Kim, Hyo-Suck;Lee, Chang-Seop;Lee, Sang-Ho
    • Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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    • v.28 no.3
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    • pp.345-354
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    • 2001
  • The purpose of this study was to make public oral health plan more effective and the improvement of the hospital management system for better clinical dental practice. Distribution and trends were examined in all patients who had been examined and diagnosed at Department of Pedodontics, Dental Hospital, Chosun University over 10 year-period from 1990 to 1999 Results were as follows, 1. The number of patients per year was increasing trend after 1996 and higher visiting rate in male(55.9%) than in female(44.1%). 2. Age distribution had shown $3\sim4$ year-old cup being the largest (23.4%) and each percentage of $5\sim6,\;7\sim8,\;0\sim2,\;9\sim10,\;11\sim12,\;13\sim14,\;above\sim15$ year-old group was 19.9%, 17.7%, 14.6%, 12.6%, 8.0%, 3.3%. 0.5%. 3. Geographic distribution showed a majority of patients in Kwang-Ju (83.0%). Group in the suburbs of Kwang-Ju(Jang-Sung group) was 5.4%. 4. Dental caries showed the highest percentage(40.5%) in chief complaints and percentage of oral exam, orthodontic problem, oral pain, trauma, supernumerary teeth, swelling was 13.9% 12.6%, 8.8%, 7.4%, 5.5%, 4.9%. 5. In all patients with traumatic problem, crown fracture showed the highest percentage(41.4%) and percentage of subluxation was 19.4%. 6. Majority(78.7%) of patients were not refered, and percentage of patients refered from local clinic was 20.5%. 7. Patients who had periodic check-up comprised 19.6%, and percentage of after 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24month was 36.7%, 22.2%, 13.5%, 11.3%, 5.4%, 11.0%.

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An analysis of one-year experience of pediatric observation unit: The first report in Korea (소아 관찰병실 운영에 대한 분석)

  • Lee, Jee Young;Choi, Ui-Yoon;Lee, Soo Young;Lee, Ji-Young;Lee, Byong Chan;Hwang, Hui Sung;Mok, Hye Rin;Jeong, Dae Chul;Chung, Seung Yun;Kang, Jin Han
    • Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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    • v.50 no.7
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    • pp.622-628
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    • 2007
  • Purpose : While pediatric observation units (POU) have become a common practice in hospitals throughout developed countries, there has been no report about POUs in Korea so far. The aims of this study were to analyze our one-year's experience of the POU and to decide which disease entities are suitable for the POU. Methods : All children admitted from March 2006 to February 2007 to the POU at the Department of Pediatrics in Our Lady of Mercy Hospital were included in this study. Data were collected from retrospective reviews of their medical records. Results : There were a total of 1,076 POU admissions. Median age of patients was 2.4 years and median length of hospital stay 14.0 hours. The most common diagnoses were gastroenteritis (42.7%), pharyngotonsillitis (19.1%), bronchiolitis (7.8%), pneumonia (5.5%) and febrile seizure (5.2%). Overall, 7.5% of the POU patients required subsequent inpatient admissions due to hospital stays of longer than 48 hours. The disease entities that were most likely to require inpatient admission were pneumonia (17.0%), febrile seizure (12.5%) and asthma (11.5%). Diseases that allowed successful discharge from the POU were gastroenteritis (4.6%), upper respiratory tract infection (5.8%), such as otitis media and pharygnotonsillitis and seizure disorder (6.4%). Compared with the previous year when the POU was not in operation, there was a statistically significant reduction in the average length of hospital stays (from 4.69 to 3.75 days), as well as a rise in the bed turnover rate (from 78.8 to 98.2 patients/bed). Conclusion : Our study shows that the POU is efficient for the management of children with certain acute illnesses. Based on this study, we suggest that the POU be used as a new modality which links between the outpatient, inpatient, and emergency departments in the field of pediatrics in Korea.